While traditional leaders from newly-created regions pile pressure on the government to choose their preferred areas as capital, Myjoyonline.com is learning that naming the capitals is the least of the concerns of President Nana Akufo-Addo.

After the chiefs and people of the affected areas petitioned the President asking for the regions to be created, which saw a massive endorsement for the creation of the regions in a December 27, 2018 referenda, the chiefs are now agitating among themselves over which towns must be selected as the administrative capital.

Although they acknowledge the decision to name a particular town as capital for a new region is the sole preserve of the President, some of them are accusing the Regional Reorganisation and Development Minister, Dan Botwe, and his deputy, Martin Adjei Korsah, of sabotaging their interests.

The new regions are Western North, Ahafo, Bono East, Oti, North East, and Savannah.

C.I presentation

President Akufo-Addo will from Wednesday, publicly present the Constitutional Instrument on the creation of the six new regions when he hosts delegations of chiefs on February 12, 13 and 15.

By Friday, Ghana’s administrative regions will officially be increased from 10 to 16.

But the chiefs and people of Nkoranza Traditional Council who want Nkoranza as the new capital, say they have been sidelined.

They believe the central location of Nkoranza makes it well placed and accessible enough to be named the capital of the newly created Bono East Region.

Speaking on Top Story on Joy FM, Monday, one of them, Chief of Buabeng, Nana Owusu Damoa Ameyaw III, said the capital of the newly created Bono East should be located at a place that meets the aspirations and wishes of the new region.

Furthermore, on Friday, the youth of Wawale, which is located in the newly-created North East region, petitioned Mr. Bowte to consider siting the capital of the new region in the town. They highlighted a number of factors to buttress their case for the capital to be sited in Walewale. Chiefs from Nalerigu and Gambaga have also publicly lobbied for the capital of the region.

“It is our conviction that the creation of the new North East Region will accelerate development and improve the quality of life of the people,” they said, adding that “to achieve this, the technocrats must take into consideration so many factors and also distinguish between traditional and administrative authority, thereby ensuring that a proper survey is done for the proper siting of the capital.”

However, Myjoyonline.com has learnt that the government may not be naming the capitals anytime soon.

This is because unlike previously where all regional offices and secretariats are centered in the capitals, the government rather intends to spread such facilities and offices across the new regions.

Distributing these facilities around the newly-created regions, according to a source, is what the government is currently being engrossed with.

This, government hopes, will open up and promote development in the newly created regions.